Aweit clenched his teeth, the pain rendered him speechless. The High Priest had once suggested that he drink special holy water before the ceremony, which he flatly refused; now, he somewhat regretted that decision.
"Release the hummingbird as tribute to the Guardian God!" Looking at the King's performance, Quetzal's face was stern, yet a smile lingered in his heart. The days were long, and he would eventually have the opportunity to make the King take the holy water. And the holy water was the perfect tool to control the King.
This was the final step. The Elder Priests handed a red hummingbird over to the King. Aweit reached out with his right hand and gently let go. The hummingbird traced a path of red lightning, soaring from the blood-red Great Temple towards the golden sun. From death to the sun, this was the destiny the Mexica believed in.